Share this

It's worth noting that Justice Ginsburg's remarks that Roe would never be overturned and that the United States would never return to the days before abortion was a constitutionally protected right were followed by enthusiastic and sustained applause. The audience included many young women who take their right to choose abortion if needs be for granted. Should the Supreme Court overturn Roe, there would be a firestorm of protest, not just by women, but by all who recognize the fundamental justice of the Roe decision.

Justice Ginsburg expressed dismay that women who lack financial resources are prohibited by government from access to a safe abortion. True, the recent legislative battle against health care insurance that might be used to cover abortion suggests that Republican officeholders will continue to wage a relentless battle against abortion access at the state and federal levels with an eye to eventually overturning Roe. Justice Ginsburg expects that will never happen now that the Roe precedent is settled law, and she is absolutely right to express that reasonable perspective in an open forum at Aspen.

More POLITICO Arena

About the Arena

The Arena is a cross-party, cross-discipline forum for intelligent and lively conversation about political and policy issues. Contributors have been selected by POLITICO staff and editors. David Mark, Arena's moderator, is a Senior Editor at POLITICO. Each morning, POLITICO sends a question based on that day's news to all contributors.